'War of the Worlds' (2009) starring Tom Cruise

'War of the Worlds' (2009) starring Tom Cruise

Andrew Cooper / Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pi

Crisis conditions: Earth has been invaded by alien tripods that seem intent on wiping the floor with humanity. The hero's journey: Cruise's deadbeat dad character must try to outfox the space terrorists' terrible firepower and fearsome ubiquity across the planet by somehow getting his family from New York to Boston. The look: Mall chic: windbreaker, work boots, jeans. Weapon(s) of choice: In a drastic change of pace for Cruise, none (unless you count defensive driving).

Crisis conditions: Earth has been invaded by alien tripods that seem intent on wiping the floor with humanity. The hero's journey: Cruise's deadbeat dad character must try to outfox the space terrorists' terrible firepower and fearsome ubiquity across the planet by somehow getting his family from New York to Boston. The look: Mall chic: windbreaker, work boots, jeans. Weapon(s) of choice: In a drastic change of pace for Cruise, none (unless you count defensive driving).

(Andrew Cooper / Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Pi)

Crisis conditions: Earth has been invaded by alien tripods that seem intent on wiping the floor with humanity. The hero's journey: Cruise's deadbeat dad character must try to outfox the space terrorists' terrible firepower and fearsome ubiquity across the planet by somehow getting his family from New York to Boston. The look: Mall chic: windbreaker, work boots, jeans. Weapon(s) of choice: In a drastic change of pace for Cruise, none (unless you count defensive driving).